Bill Gates appeared in a closed-door hearing before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday to answer questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose ties to powerful figures have continued to draw scrutiny. The Microsoft co-founder and major philanthropist said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and stated that Epstein tried to use information about Gates’s personal life in an effort to pressure him.
According to the account, Gates used his opening statement to acknowledge that meeting Epstein was a mistake and said he had exercised poor judgment in doing so. He described himself as “one of many people who regret ever knowing him,” signaling both remorse and distance from Epstein’s conduct and legacy. The hearing was not open to the public, and the details came through reporting on the session.
Gates’s testimony adds to the long-running public examination of how Epstein maintained connections with prominent business leaders, academics, politicians and other influential figures even after serving a jail sentence related to sex offenses. His interactions with Epstein have been the subject of past media attention and questions about why he continued to meet with him.
The hearing also reflects ongoing congressional interest in Epstein’s network and the extent to which his relationships may have been used to gain influence or access. Gates said Epstein attempted to exploit personal information as leverage, suggesting a dynamic that Gates portrayed as manipulative rather than collaborative. His remarks were framed as a response to lawmakers seeking clarity on the nature of the association.
The BBC’s Gary O’Donoghue examined the background of Gates’s connection to Epstein and described how lawmakers reacted to the testimony. The committee’s interest underscores how Epstein’s death and the continued release of records, testimony and court-related material have kept his associations in the public spotlight.
For Gates, the hearing was another effort to address a controversial chapter in his public life. As one of the world’s most recognizable business figures and philanthropists, any acknowledgment of poor judgment in associating with Epstein carries broader reputational significance. His testimony emphasized that he did not know about Epstein’s criminal behavior, while also conceding that the relationship itself was a mistake.
The hearing adds to a wider pattern in which prominent figures connected to Epstein have been pressed to explain their ties, often years after the fact. Gates’s comments are likely to remain part of that broader record as investigators, lawmakers and the public continue to scrutinize Epstein’s influence and the people in his orbit.
